Fair Use Note

WARNING for European visitors: European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. You are responsible for confirming this notice actually works for your blog, and that it displays. If you employ other cookies, for example by adding third party features, this notice may not work for you. Learn more about this notice and your responsibilities.

Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

12 February - Blogs I'm Following

11:35 pm MST

This Is The Naval Fleet That The U.S. Needs

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 minutes ago
*Wryan Clark & Bryan McGrath, War on the Rocks: **A Guide to the Fleet the United States Needs* *Editor’s Note: The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required the Department of Defense to conduct three studies of the future fleet platform architecture needed by the Navy in the 2030 timeframe. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) was selected to conduct one of the studies. The result is Restoring American Seapower by Bryan Clark, Bryan McGrath, Peter Haynes, Jesse Sloman, and Timothy Walton. Two of the authors – Bryan Clark and Bryan McGrath – prev... more »

Interim Storage Open-Air Parking Lots of High Level Nuclear Waste Risk Major Radioactive Leaks – Most Canister Systems Do Not Meet Standards: Made of Thin Steel; Neither Adequately Inspected Nor Adequately Monitored

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 17 minutes ago
Holtec Spent Fuel Casks at Diablo Canyon, California “The majority of current U.S. irradiated spent fuel storage facilities use thin-walled … Continue reading →

Defending Democracy from the Ivory Tower

Josh Busby at Duck of Minerva - 34 minutes ago
What is the role of the academic in defending democracy at a moment like this? I am 46 years old and have lived through some politically searing moments in U.S. and world history, but the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States feels different. It feels like an existential threat to world […]

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 55 minutes ago
President Trump High-Fiving Japanese Prime Minister Abe. Twitter

Meanwhile, back in Ireland

Kenneth Thomas at Middle Class Political Economist - 1 hour ago
We've gotten to another point where it's hard for me to turn on the TV. I know this will have to change, but for now I'll go back to one of my favorite topics, the fate of Ireland under austerity. As I suggested might happen, Ireland in its 2015-2016 immigration statistical year (May-April) was finally able to end its net emigration. According to the Central Statistical Office's August report, 3100 more people came to Ireland than left during 2015-2016. This was the first time since 2008-2009 that Ireland had net in-migration. Still, among the Irish themselves, net emigration contin... more »

Obama Should Have Pardoned Ed Snowden For Many Reasons-- Taking Him Out Of Putin's Hands Was One Big One

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 hour ago
Friday evening we suggested-- tongue firmly in cheek-- not being mean to the brutal Russian dictator. Dictator and murderer. Many putatively-leftish intellectuals have felt some kind of naive kinship with Putin because he offered refuge to Ed Snowden. I have been grateful myself, though never for a moment childish enough to not understand that Putin's motives were anything but self-serving... generally the motivation for anything a head of state does. Putin's "generosity" towards Snowden was a way of sticking his thumb in Obama's eye while making himself look vaguely progressivish... more »

These Are The Top Lethal Stealth Weapons Of War

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
As storm clouds gather in the background multiple B-2 Spirit aircraft land for aircraft recovery Aug. 24, 2016 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The B-2s low-observable, or “stealth,” characteristics give it the ability to penetrate an enemy’s most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most-valued, heavily defended targets while avoiding adversary detection, tracking and engagement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovan Banks) *Kyle Mizokami, Scout Warrior*:* 5 Most Lethal Stealth Weapons of War* *These are the best "unseen" military assets and not all are in the air.* Ste... more »

US Marine Captain: 'We Lost The Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
Sgt. Mark Fayloga/U.S. Marine Corps Photo *Capt Joshua Waddell, Marine Corps:* *Innovation; And other things that brief well* I am now thoroughly convinced there is something deeply wrong with the part of the Marine Corps occupying the I-95 corridor leading to the Pentagon. What has become painfully apparent to me is the drastic difference between the mindset of the Operating Forces and the Supporting Establishment. While I grant that, in the case of the former, the prospects of being shot, blown up, or otherwise extinguished tend to be wonderful motivators to constantly improve ... more »

NSA Contractor Has Been Indicted For Massive Breach Of U.S. Intelligence

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
*Business Insider*:* A former NSA contractor allegedly stole documents seemingly far more sensitive than anything Snowden made public* Former National Security Agency contractor Harold Martin allegedly stole documents that seem far more sensitive than what has come from the Snowden leaks. For more than two decades, Martin allegedly made off with highly-classified documents that were found in his home and car that included discussions of the US military's capabilities and gaps in cyberspace, specific targets, and "extremely sensitive" operations against terror groups, according to ... more »

US Sending A Dozen F-22 Raptor Fighers For A Training Mission In Australia

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
© REUTERS/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald *Sputnik*: *US Sending F-22 Raptor Jets on Training Mission to Australia* *The US Air Force is sending a dozen F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft to an air base in northern Australia to conduct joint exercise with the country’s combat units, the US Pacific Command (PACOM) announced on its web site.* WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — "Pacific Air Forces will send 12 F-22 Raptor aircraft and approximately 190 airmen to Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in early February to conduct combined exercises and training missions with the Royal Australian Air For... more »

Hezbollah Leader Calls President Trump An 'Idiot'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, delivers a televised speech from the town of Baalbek, southern Lebanon, on February 12, 2017. *The Hill:* *Hezbollah leader: Having 'idiot' Trump in White House makes us optimistic* The leader of Lebanon’s Shiite militant group and political party Hezbollah said having an "idiot" in the White House makes the group optimistic, a reference to President Trump. "We are very optimistic that when an idiot settles in the White House and boasts about his idiocy, this is the beginning of relief for th... more »

X22Report, “Current Economic Collapse News Brief”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
X22Report, “Current Economic Collapse News Brief” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbVMkz-MGOQ

Musical Interlude: 2002, “Full Circle”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
- 2002, “Full Circle” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H13jUHKAYU

5,000 people expected at NOI 9/11 truth event next Saturday

Kevin Barrett at truthjihad.com blog - 3 hours ago
I will be speaking, along with Christopher Bollyn and Richard Gage, AIA, at "The War on Islam: 9/11 Revisited, Uncovered and Exposed" next Saturday, February 18th, at Cobo Hall D in Detroit, Michigan. This is the Plenary Session of the Nation of Islam's annual Saviors Day event. Roughly 5,000 people are expected to attend. More information HERE.

Massive Protests Continue In Romania

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
*New York Times*: *Anger and Mistrust Fuel Unabated Protests in Romania* BUCHAREST, Romania — Exactly one week after the largest protests in a quarter of a century rocked Romania, an estimated 70,000 demonstrators filled the square outside the main government building in Bucharest on Sunday evening, determined to show those in power that the crisis was far from over. While significantly less than the half a million who took to the streets across the country the previous Sunday, the Bucharest demonstration was still a potent sign of the resilient unrest in the country and the loss ... more »

U.S. Reaction To North Korea's Recent Missile Test

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
Passengers watch a TV screen broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji *Reuters:* *Few good options in Trump arsenal to counter defiant North Korea* Despite his campaign vows to take a tougher line with North Korea, President Donald Trump's restrained public reaction to Pyongyang's first ballistic missile launch on his watch underscores that he has few good options to curb its missile and nuclear programs. The responses under consideration ... more »

North Korea Claims Sunday's Ballistic Missile Test Was A 'Success'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
*CNN*: *North Korea calls ballistic missile test-fire a success* (CNN)North Korea says it has successfully completed the launch of a new ballistic missile, according to state media. The Pukguksong-2, a medium long-range ballistic missile, was test fired on Sunday under the supervision of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, KCNA. South Korea and the United States confirmed the launch Sunday. A US official said the missile traveled 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, and that i... more »

A Plea for Help?

LL at Virtual Mirage - 3 hours ago
I find it odd that California Governor, Jerry Brown, is asking for the federal government for help with global warming in light of the State Government's general defiance of federal law and the numerous threats to secede from the Union. It's very unlikely that the federal government will spend one thin dime on the train to nowhere project that is a pork-barrel favorite of California's Democrat caucus. Had Hillary won, there would have been borrowed money pouring in like the water that is pouring out of the damaged Oroville dam at the moment. How times have changed. (Breitbart) O... more »

Taiwan News #7: Water water....

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 3 hours ago
One of my favorite topics: water policy... Elsewhere the waste continues. The water price for industrial users in Taiwan is NT$11 per cubic meter, unchanged for two decades. In 2015, in response to prolonged drought, the government meekly decided to campaign to reduce water use from 270 liters a day per person all the way to 250, but this was a voluntary program, not mandatory. By comparison, in the UK and Germany water use is already around 2/3 of that figure. The low water prices not only encourage waste, but as the EPA pointed out two years ago when it called for higher water pr... more »

Nicolai Gedda (1925-2017)

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
*10pm ET UPDATE: We have Yevgeny Onegin audio files!* *Anneliese Rothenberger and Nicolai Gedda as Constanzeand Belmonte in Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio,from the cover of their 1966 EMI recording* *MOZART: The Abduction from the Seraglio: Overture and Belmonte's entrance aria, "Hier soll ich dich denn sehen?"* *BELMONTE:* Here am I then to see you, Constanze -- you, my happiness? Let Heaven make it happen! Give me my peace back! I suffered sorrows, o Love, all too many of them. Grant me now in their place joys and bring me toward the goal. [aria at 4:35] *Nicolai Gedda (t)... more »

They are protectors: Ohio pipeline cannot built thanks to endangered bats

White Wolf at White Wolf - 4 hours ago
Opponents of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline expected to be built across the northern half of Ohio are clinging to the wings of a furry flier, the northern long-eared bat, in their efforts to at least delay the $2 billion project. The existence of the threatened species remains one of the impediments the partnership between Houston-based Spectra Energy and Detroit's DTE Energy face before receiving expected approval to build the 255-mile long NEXUS pipeline capable of transporting 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day from the shale fields of Appalachia into Michigan and Ontar... more »

Watch Northern Cree perform at Grammys 2017

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 5 hours ago
Watch Northern Cree perform at Grammys 2017 Watch: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RTaGX1y0xj8 Or https://www.grammy.com/videos/northern-cree-carla-morrison-grammy-performance-cree-cuttin-and-un-beso# and http://rpm.fm/news/watch-northern-crees-incredible-performance-2017-grammys/

death

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 5 hours ago

On the Crazy Temperatures in Reactor 2

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 5 hours ago
Blast from the past: Unit 2 was reported as potentially re-heating in February 2012 (link is active but content of article is no longer up): Fukushima's No. 2 reactor may be reheating. Japan today. Feb. 13, 2012 - 09:15AM JST http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/fukushimas-no-2-reactor-may-be-reheating [excerpted] "Temperature readings at one of the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactors have risen above Japan’s stringent new safety standard but there was no immediate danger, its operator said Sunday." I have been assuming that the spiking readings from unit 2 reported r... more »

Dangerous Texas High-Level Radioactive Waste Open-Air Parking Lot Dump – Public Hearings on Monday and Wednesday; Public Comment to March 13 – License Application

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 6 hours ago
News Release from Public Citizen: “Jan. 30, 2017 License Application for Dangerous West Texas High-Level Radioactive Waste Dump Is Now … Continue reading →

What's At Stake In Battle For Al-Bab? Turkish/Syrian Cooperation

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 7 hours ago
*Via the BBC: Fabrice Balanche: Washington Institute for Near East Policy* *Interesting? Share your thoughts.* *The Syrian town of al-Bab was rather insignificant until it emerged as a strategic stake between the Syrian president and his allies (Russia and Iran), Turkey, the Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party) and the so-called Islamic State group. Al-Bab was quickly occupied by rebels in spring 2012, and subsequently seized by IS during the winter of 2013-2014, which eliminated the other rebel factions. The town has since become an IS stronghold, home to many foreign jiha... more »

Edward Snowden: If We Are Going To Protect The Rights Of Anyone, We Have To Be Able To Protect The Rights Of Everyone

dandelionsalad at Dandelion Salad - 7 hours ago
Dandelion Salad Edward Snowden talks about FBI’s COINTELPRO, CIA’s MK-ULTRA and Black Lives Matters acTVism Munich on Jan 17, 2017 In this interview with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden we talk about the history of intelligence agencies and some notable whistleblowers. *** Edward Snowden on Donald Trump, Obama’s Presidency, Activism & Liberty & his life in […]

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
“What will become of these galaxies? Spiral galaxies NGC 5426 and NGC 5427 are passing dangerously close to each other, but each is likely to survive this collision. Typically when galaxies collide, a large galaxy eats a much smaller galaxy. In this case, however, the two galaxies are quite similar, each being a sprawling spiral with expansive arms and a compact core. As the galaxies advance over the next tens of millions of years, their component stars are unlikely to collide, although new stars will form in the bunching of gas caused by gravitational tides. *Click image for larger... more »

Chet Raymo, “The Restless Heart”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*“The Restless Heart”* by Chet Raymo “In ‘Letters to a Young Poet’, Rainer Maria Rilke writes: "We should try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue." To which I would add, let us trust the gifts that nature has given us- curiosity, attention, reason- and if our personal lives are destined for oblivion, then know that we have made of ordinary things something grander and more enduring. We are the transformers. We are bestowers of praise. "Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because ... more »

"The Truth Is..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck

“Our Deepest Fear”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*“Our Deepest Fear”* “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of u... more »

FREE Download: Orison Swett Marden, "An Iron Will"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
"An Iron Will" by Orison Swett Marden "Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924) was an American writer associated with the New Thought Movement. He also held a degree in medicine, and was a successful hotel owner. Marden was born in Thornton Gore, New Hampshire to Lewis and Martha Marden. When he was three years old, his mother died at the age of 22, leaving Orison and his two sisters in the care of their father, a farmer, hunter, and trapper. When Orison was seven years old, his father died from injuries incurred while in the wood, and the children were shuttled from one guardian to anot... more »

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thanks for stopping by!

German Chancellor Merkel Now Offering Cash For Migrants To Leave

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
Syrian refugees arrive at the camp for refugees and migrants in Friedland, Germany April 4, 2016. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach *Daily Mail:* *Merkel offers cash handouts worth millions of pounds for migrants to return home in an embarrassing U-turn* * The German chancellor agreed measures to speed up deportation * An estimated 450,000 rejected migrants are set to be sent home * Scheme includes £76million of cash incentives to leave voluntarily Angela Merkel will offer cash handouts worth millions of pounds for migrants to leave Germany in an effort to silence criticism of her ‘open-door... more »

Alienating The Base-- A Tale Of Two Primaries... Arizona And New Jersey

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
*Many Arizona Republicans see Jeff Flake through this Alt-Fact lens* Arizona Senator Jeff Flake has a long history-- mostly in the House-- as a right-of-center conservative. His record is *very* conservative but, unlike so many of his colleagues, not unhinged or deranged. He's a Mormon and his very vocal opposition to Trump seems to have been based on the same sense of decency and deep-seated beliefs that most Mormon leaders expressed during the election. Trump did significantly worse in Mormon communities than other Republicans did. In 2004, George W Bush took 80% of the Mormon vot... more »

U.S. Vetoes U.N. High Post For Ex-Premier of ‘Palestine’

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
*New York The Sun*: *UN Erupts in an Uproar After Trump Vetoes High Post For Ex-Premier of ‘Palestine’* UNITED NATIONS — A new administration in disarray botches one of its first big moves, gets overruled, and then cries foul. Sounds familiar? Welcome to the United Nations under Secretary General Antonio Guterres. On Thursday, Mr. Guterres nominated a former Palestinian Authority prime minister, Salam Fayyad, to be the United Nations’ envoy in Libya. He asked for Security Council approval. On Friday, America’s new permanent representative at the UN, Ambassador Nikki Haley, uncerem... more »

Is the Corbyn Moment Over?

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 8 hours ago
The seisometers are registering something. Is it a tremor triggered by the usual grumbles, or are the plates storing up a major event? This is the problem when it comes to analysing the travails of the Labour leadership. With the irreconcilables tactically and temporarily reconciled to the present state of affairs, the cracks are feeling their way across the Corbynist edifice. Clive Lewis had to resign his business brief after defying the three line whip to support the triggering of Article 50. Before David Davis assaulted her, Diane Abbott's migraines were the stuff of Westminster... more »

Poll: Canadians Favor Trudeau Over Trump By A Wide Margin

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
Trump’s overall approval rating among Canadian voters peaked at 28 per cent during the 10 days that Mainstreet polled, while 52 per cent of Canadians gave Trudeau a thumbs up for the job he is doing. National Post *National Post:* *Canadians deeply dislike Trump, but prefer him to Trudeau on economy, security: poll* OTTAWA — Despite deep overall disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadians prefer Trump’s approach to managing the economy and national security over the approach of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a poll taken on the eve of Trump’s inauguration. T... more »

CIA Publicly Honors Massive Terrorist State — Proving Whose Side They’re On

Claire Bernish at The Free Thought Project - 9 hours ago
[image: CIA]A crown prince and heir to the throne in Saudi Arabia, which funds terrorism, just received a major counter-terrorism award from the CIA.

"If The Only Tool You Have..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 9 hours ago
"I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail." – Abraham Maslow

"Good Example of Our Two-Movie Reality"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 9 hours ago
*"Good Example of Our Two-Movie Reality"* by Scott Adams "I have been saying since Trump’s election that the world has split into two realities– or as I prefer to say, two movies on one screen– and most of us don’t realize it. We’re all looking at the same events and interpreting them wildly differently. That’s how cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias work. They work together to create a spontaneous hallucination that gets reinforced over time. That hallucination becomes your reality until something changes. This phenomenon has nothing to do with natural intelligence. We like... more »

Plans Underway For The Liberation Of The Syrian City of Raqqa From The Islamic State

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Tim Lister, CNN*: *ISIS' enemies line up to take Raqqa, but when -- and how?* (CNN)The "caliphate" declared by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) will lose its last two cities of any consequence -- Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria -- within months, according to the senior U.S. general in the region. Speaking on a tour north of Baghdad this week, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force, said the next phase of the Iraqi military operation to take Mosul will get underway imminently. The city of some 300,000 inhabitants is ISIS' administrative h... more »

Turkey's President Erdogan Says The End Goal For The Turkish Military In Syria Is The Capture Of Raqqa

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Reuters*: *Erdogan says end goal of Turkish operation in Syria is Raqqa* President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday the final goal of a Turkish incursion into Syria was not just to retake the city of al-Bab from Islamic State, but to cleanse a border region including Raqqa of the jihadists. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are pressing a major offensive on al-Bab, 30 km (20 miles) south of the Turkish border. The advance risks putting them in direct conflict with Syrian government forces who are closing in on the city from the south. "The ultimate goal is to cleanse a 5,000-square-km ar... more »

The Next Phase Of Terrorism Will Involve Drones

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Scott Stewart, Fabius Maximus:* *Stratfor looks at the next phase of terrorism: ISIS drones* *Summary: Stratfor looks at the videos of ISIS using drones and discusses their potential applications of this new weapon. Will we see ISIS drones in the skies of America? * The Islamic State is taking to the skies as the fight for Mosul wears on. Over the past several weeks, the extremist group has been flaunting its use of unmanned aerial vehicles against Iraqi army and Kurdish forces in and around the city. Propaganda videos feature dramatic aerial footage of the precision attacks, an... more »

The Alexander Lapshin Case: Extradited and Imprisoned in Azerbaijan over Telling the Truth about Nagorno-Karabakh

Joachim Hagopian at American Empire Exposed - 10 hours ago
Until a few weeks ago no one in North America even heard of journalist-blogger Alexander Lapshin. He lives primarily in Moscow but as a Russian-Israeli-Ukrainian citizen possessing three passports, Lapshin is a globetrotter who writes a blog called “Life Adventures” for the popular travel website LiveJournal. In Russia his on the road stories to off the beaten path, unusual places around the world (122 in all) have generated quite a following for their colorful and humorous portrayal of life as a foreign tourist visiting various diverse cultures and locations. But the 40-year old L... more »

The Utter Irrelevance of the "Balance of Trade"

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 10 hours ago
*No concept in international economics – indeed, perhaps no concept in all of economics – is as prodigious a source of confusion and plunderous policy as is that of the so-called “trade deficit,” observes Don Boudreaux in this guest post. Or as irrelevant…* In Chapter 6 of Frédéric Bastiat‘s indispensable collection entitled *Economic Sophisms,* Bastiat takes on the fascination with the balance of trade – and the lunacy of the person or politician who believes “if France gives ten in order to receive fifteen, it loses five; and it is quite plain that [the politician] would draf... more »

Islamic State Chemical Weapons Chief Assassinated In Mosul

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
CHEMICAL WEAPONS: ISIS have used chlorine laden shells in its war in Iraq. Reuters *Iraqi News*: *Islamic State chlorine bomb expert mysteriously killed in western Mosul* Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State militant, the group’s chlorine bombs expert, was killed mysteriously in western Mosul as the group builds up defenses anticipating a security offensive. Reports quoted a local source in Nineveh as saying that the so-nicknamed Abu Yaha al-Iraqi, 44, was killed near his residence in Islah al-Zeraie district in “mysterious circumstances”. He was referred to as the “engineer”... more »

THE REAL REASON REPUBLICANS WANT TO PULL THE PLUG ON...

Robert Reich - 10 hours ago
*THE REAL REASON REPUBLICANS WANT TO PULL THE PLUG ON OBAMACARE* Don’t be fooled by Trump’s and Republican promises to “repeal and replace” Obamacare. They could repeal it, but they can’t and won’t replace it. They’ve tried for years to come up with a replacement that keeps at least as many people covered. Their “replacement” never appears. So why do Republicans want to repeal Obamacare and leave millions without insurance? Because it would mean a huge tax windfall for the wealthy. Repealing Obamacare will put an average of $33,000 of tax cuts in the hands of the richest 1 perce... more »

What Is President Trump's Plan For Afghanistan?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*Military Times:* *Before there's another surge in Afghanistan, Mattis and his general need to meet* Any plans to send additional American and NATO troops to Afghanistan won't take shape before Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with his European counterparts and the war's top commander, the Pentagon said Friday. Those talks are scheduled to begin on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels, a week after Army Gen. John Nicholson told Senate lawmakers that the 15-year conflict had reached a "stalemate." Thousands of additional military personnel would be needed, Nicholson said, if the co... more »

Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 12, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*New York Times*: *NATO Checking Claim that U.S. Airstrikes Killed 22 Afghan Civilians* KABUL, Afghanistan — The NATO mission in Afghanistan has opened a preliminary investigation into claims that more than 20 civilians were killed in recent American airstrikes in the southern province of Helmand, military officials said Saturday. Elders from the Sangin district, the scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks, with the Taliban blowing up Afghan Army posts there, have said that multiple American airstrikes early Friday morning killed at least 22 civilians, including several women and... more »

Free Planet - how does my vision - differ from yours?

Mike Philbin at Mike Philbin's free planet blog - 11 hours ago
I am Mike Philbin, and Free Planet is my original idea. *Am I sure that Free Planet is my original idea? * Of course, I am, as all ideas are 'original ideas' ... ya know, is anything (really) original? Aren't we all components of the same living machine? Reflections of the shattered hologram? I realise I'm going to have to put together an updated youtube video along Free Planet lines, but for now it's a text thing. Let's see what happens in this (our) world... How is my idea of Free Planet any different from your idea of Free Planet? This place you're living in now. It's not a Free ... more »

Midday Musical Interlude: Poco, “Rose of Cimarron

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
Poco, “Rose of Cimarron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiDNlCyHp0I

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago

Greg Hunter, Catherine Austin Fitts: "Empire Strikes Back on Trump"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*"Empire Strikes Back on Trump"* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com "Investment advisor says the oligarch, or establishment class, is on the attack. She calls this latest chapter in the Trump Administration “The Empire Strikes Back.” Fitts explains, “Number one, Trump came into Washington with an agenda that would really make America great again: tax reform, regulatory relief, infrastructure and Obama Care. Immediately, he got bogged down in those for a variety of reasons. If you look at Congress’s constituents, they can’t make money solving those things, particularly if it helps reg... more »

The Six-Month Cycle Of The Experimental Physicist

Tommaso Dorigo at Science 2.0 blogs - 12 hours ago
Every year, at about this time, the level of activity of physicists working in experimental collaborations at high-energy colliders and elsewhere increases dramatically. We are approaching the time of "winter conferences", so called in order to distinguish them from "summer conferences". During winter conferences, which take place between mid-February and the end of March in La Thuile, Lake Louise, and other fashionable places close to ski resorts, experimentalists gather to show off their latest results. The same ritual repeats during the summer in a few more varied locations arou... more »

Are Ukraine's Leaders Giving Up On Reuniting The Country?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
The Economist: *Ukraine’s leaders may be giving up on reuniting the country* *Reintegrating Donbas is starting to look like a Russian trap.* FROM her roadside stall in eastern Ukraine, Svetlana Tsymbal watches the cars creep past the Mayorsk checkpoint. This used to be a peaceful provincial highway. Now it is a border crossing at the front line of a conflict that has left some 10,000 people dead. Parents return home “to the other side” after visiting children. Pensioners cross to receive payments on Ukrainian-held territory. Traders lug supplies and sometimes contraband back and fo... more »

DAVID ROSE: How can we trust global warming scientists if they keep twisting the truth

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 12 hours ago
By Paul Homewood http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4216180/How-trust-global-warming-scientists-asks-David-Rose.html? David Rose follows up his story from last week: They were duped – and so were we. That was the conclusion of last week’s damning revelation that world leaders signed the Paris Agreement on climate change under the sway of unverified and questionable data. A landmark scientific paper –the […]

Is There A Role For Government In Fighting The Latest World Wide Right-Wing Scourge: Fake News

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
The *Washington Post* recently defined fake news as "deliberately constructed lies, in the form of news articles, meant to mislead the public." Last month California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez-- currently running for the open L.A. congressional seat Xavier Bacerra left to become state Attorney General-- introduced a bill in Sacramento to empower educators to help school children understand the difference between actual news and Trump's and Putin's Alt-News, i.e., fake news. Some right-wing hack in a bowtie on Fox-- Tucker Carlson I think-- had a meltdown over it. After all, if people... more »

Musings On Iraq In The News

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
Was mentioned in “ISIS executes 5 civilians in western Mosul for fleeing” by Rudaw. Was also cited in "Bataille de Mossoul: Comment Daech A Perdu La Partie Est De La Ville Au Prix De Rudes Combats" in France Soir.

Survey Finds Internet In Iraq Reinforces Sectarian Views

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
In 2015 during the Shiite pilgrimages of Arabeen to the shrine city of Karbala a group of researches from the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) interviewed 1,668 Iranians and 2,410 Iraqis. One of the things they were asked about was where they got their news from, and how it affected their views. The vast majority of Iraqis, 89.7% got their news from TV. 69.9% said they received their information from friends and family. 48.5% read the Internet, 27.2% received it from their mosque, 9.5% read newspapers and magazines, and 8.4% listened to the radio. Social media and Inte... more »

Mosul Campaign Day 117, Feb 11, 2017

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
It turns out yesterday’s violence was even worse than initially reported. Instead of one there were actually three car bombs in east Mosul. Those resulted in 15 deaths and 9 wounded. On February 11 two suicide bombers were killed. Even though fighting is over in east Mosul the insurgents continue to take a heavy toll on civilians in the liberated areas. Army Chief of Staff General Othman al-Ghanemi claimedthat it would take 30 days to eliminate all the sleeper cells. The security forces (ISF) are conducting sweeps through neighborhoods, and extra units have been sent in to help. E... more »

Sunday Morning Links

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 12 hours ago
This and that for your Sunday reading. - David Suzuki discusses the merits of a four-day work week in improving both working and living conditions: It’s absurd that so many people still work eight hours a day, five days a week — or more — with only a few weeks’ vacation a year, often needing two incomes to support a household. Our economic system was developed when resources seemed plentiful if not inexhaustible, and physical infrastructure was lacking. We need an overhaul to meet today’s conditions rather than those that existed decades ago when we were unaware of many of the pot... more »

With the Brexit, with Donald Trump, with the new missile test in Korea...

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 12 hours ago
Though I remain a fan of Paddy O'Connell's *Broadcasting House *and enjoy hearing the occasional contributions of sound recordist Chris Watson, Paddy's 'slow radio' theme (featuring Mr Watson) has a very 'BBC' undercurrent to it: The news at the moment is so awful (Brexit, Trump, etc), so wouldn't it be lovely to escape from it for a minute or so and listen to the sounds of a Finnish lake instead? Paddy gave that recurring *BH *theme a classic, sighing statement this morning: With the Brexit, with Donald Trump, with the new missile test in Korea, with...I can get updates even w... more »

CNN Caught ‘Reminding’ ‘Objective’ Audience Members What Debate Questions to Ask

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: cnn]A recently surfaced photo purports to show the questions given to presidential candidates during town halls were pre-selected by CNN.

Is President Trump's Policy For Better Relations With Russia The Right One?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
A woman passes a billboard showing a pictures of US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, November 16, 2016. REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic *Lawrence Solomon, National Post*:* Trump is right to warm to Putin. Russia, U.S. are more naturally friends than enemies* President Trump wants to hit it off with Vladimir Putin, hoping to make Russia a friend of the United States. He’s right to try. Contrary to the common perception that Russia is a natural enemy of the U.S., Russia is a natural friend . There’s no reason to believe they can’t... more »

President Trump Did Not Back Down To China

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
A combination of file photos showing Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) at London's Heathrow Airport, October 19, 2015 and U.S. President Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Lucas Jackson/File Photos *Harry Kazianis, RCW*: *No, Trump Did Not Back Down From China* Have you ever seen a boxer get knocked out in a fight before the bell even rang? If you follow the rush-to-judgement analysis coming out of some outlets when it comes to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Friday-night chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping, you might belie... more »

The lowest form of wit?

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 13 hours ago
Mark Mardell was in sarky form today. In his introduction to *The World This Weekend*, he played a clip of Donald Trump saying that the US would stand behind its "great ally" Japan "100%" and then asked, "What does a 100% policy look like?". And, later, introducing a section on "platinum-haired" Geert Wilders, he began, "A questionable hairstyle and blunt views on Islam might turn out to be a winning election combination over here as well as over there". *Update*: In his preview on *Broadcasting House*, MM said Mr Wilders "was attacking Islam and having a dodgy hairstyle before ... more »

Sunday

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 13 hours ago
My old reviews of Radio 4's *Sunday *sometimes used to quote the *Spectator*'s Damian Thompson saying "Radio 4's *Sunday* programme offers perhaps the most undiluted liberal bias to be found anywhere on the BBC", and I'd often note the programme's heavy tendency to make certain types of campaign the starting point for its discussions. Today's edition, for example, had sections on (a) a campaign to challenge the government's handling of the arrival of "unaccompanied child refugees from Europe" (by people who want the government to bring in *more* migrant children), (b) a campaign ... more »

Fukushima Update: 3 Admitted Meltdowns, 6 Years After the Fact

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 13 hours ago
*Long term readers here were aware in 2011 that there had been multiple meltdowns at Fukushima. *Though the main stream media reports of the day denied and denied that fact- My posts from 2011 will be relinked after the latest news reports. Sadly the most recent media articles *mention the 3 meltdowns in a very casual manner*- as if *attempting to gloss over or obscure the fact that this triple meltdown occurred nearly 6 years ago *and the *subsequent radiation contamination continues to be a problem for the planet to this very day* *Techtimes* *Azby Brown of citizen science or... more »

President Obama Is Going Back To His Roots As A Community Organizer Against The Policies Of President Trump

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
President Obama looks over at President-elect Donald Trump, taking a drink of water before getting up to take the oath of office. PHOTO: REUTERS *Paul Sperry, New York Post*: *How Obama is scheming to sabotage Trump’s presidency* When former President Barack Obama said he was “heartened” by anti-Trump protests, he was sending a message of approval to his troops. Troops? Yes, Obama has an army of agitators — numbering more than 30,000 — who will fight his Republican successor at every turn of his historic presidency. And Obama will command them from a bunker less than two miles from... more »

KELLYANNE CONWAY DOES NOT STRIKE ME AS EMOTIONALLY NEEDY

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 13 hours ago
I'm not sure how I feel about this: *Saturday Night Live Just Aired A Kellyanne Conway Sketch That Is Very Controversial* Kellyanne Conway and Jake Tapper in a remake of *Fatal Attraction*. Twitter is divided! ... Casting Kellyanne Conway as Glenn Close was a miscalculation on SNL's part. Will be interpreted as unfair and mean to a wife and mother. — Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) February 12, 2017 ... But a lot of people thought it was funny. Sorry but this is not sexist. It’s actually brilliant. For many reasons. https://t.co/bCM9DG2EC8 — Sasha Stone (@AwardsDaily) February 12, 20... more »

‘United States Is Still A Colony’: Interview With Jacqueline Keeler On Dakota Access Pipeline

Kevin Gosztola at Shadowproof - 13 hours ago
Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola are joined by Jacqueline Keeler, a writer who is of Dineh and Yankton Sioux Dakota heritage, is our guest this week. She is the author of “Edge of Morning: Native Voices Speak for the Bears Ears.” Her work has been published by The Nation, The post ‘United States Is Still A Colony’: Interview With Jacqueline Keeler On Dakota Access Pipeline appeared first on Shadowproof.

The Grammy Awards are tonight...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 14 hours ago
*I won't be watching.* How about you? *According to The Blaze:* Longtime Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich says he welcomes musicians going “off script” during the awards ceremony on Sunday to speak their minds about politics and President Donald Trump. In fact, Ehrlich told the magazine that the speeches only have one restriction: they can’t have profanity, given the 3.5 hour long awards ceremony is being broadcasted by CBS. “One of the things I’ve learned from working with artists for 40 years is that they are deep-thinking, vital individuals who have interests that cover a br... more »

Choice

LL at Virtual Mirage - 14 hours ago
Getting Secretary DeVos through the US Senate's confirmation process and into her present position as Secretary of Education was a grind. The teachers unions pay politicians a lot of money to get their way and DeVos was not their pick. America has found itself in a situation where big Washington DC interests such as education money (not particularly education) matters. Sec. DeVos has repeatedly stressed that education policy is better made at the state and local level, which, if she sticks to her word, should allay any *rational* concern that we will see expansive federal overreach ... more »

The U.S. Intelligence Community Is Revolting Against President Trump

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*NBC* John R. Schindler, Observer: *The Spy Revolt Against Trump Begins* Intelligence Community pushes back against a White House it considers leaky, untruthful and penetrated by the Kremlin. In a recent column, I explained how the still-forming Trump administration is already doing serious harm to America’s longstanding global intelligence partnerships. In particular, fears that the White House is too friendly to Moscow are causing close allies to curtail some of their espionage relationships with Washington—a development with grave implications for international security, partic... more »

Tweet For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
Map detailing route of North Korean ballistic missile after latest test launch from #Banghyon air base #NKorea pic.twitter.com/WYgnSlubos — AFP news agency (@AFP) February 12, 2017

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 14 hours ago
*From Jenna Orkin* Reuters Leaks Trump-Putin Phone Call, Reveals Trump Unfamiliar With Russia Nuclear Treaty India cuts some funding ties with Gates Foundation on immunization ... Cash No Longer King: Europe Accelerates Move To Begin Elimination Of Paper Money £50 million of cocaine just washed up on a beach in Norfolk Russia Considers Returning Snowden to U.S. to ‘Curry Favor’ With Trump: Official Temporal Association of Certain Neuropsychiatric Disorders Following Vaccination of Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Case–Control Study Donald Trump signs executive order giving pol... more »

Born that way

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
I haven’t quite finished with TBQs yet. Did anyone else wonder what the bearded would-be polygamist Azad Chaiwala thinks about homosexuality? Only, when he justified his desire for multiple wives (because he was “born that way”, ) did he even realise that he was appropriating “the Gay argument”. Mustn’t laugh, but he was seated next to Guardianista Dawn Foster, another of the BBC’s current favourite social affairs commentators. Would the wives be fighting for *more* of his attention or *less *of it, one wonders. I quite hope he gets his way, and the wives gang up on him having i... more »

Venezuelans Are Now Fleeing To The U.S. In Record Numbers

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*WNU Editor*: Here comes he next waves of refugees/migrants .... *Venezuela now leads US asylum requests as crisis deepens* (AP). Am I surprised? No. I have been predicting this for the past few months .... *The Threat Of Mass Migration Looms For Venezuela* (January 2, 2017). Millions fled Cuba for a better life .... I expect the same will happen for Venezuela.

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade take part in an urban warfare drill in an abandoned hotel in Arad, southern Israel, on February 8, 2017. © REUTERS/ Amir Cohen

'We Were Soldiers' Hero Lt. General Harold Moore Has Passed Away

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*Stars and Stripes/AP*: *Lt. Gen. Hal Moore dies; depicted in film 'We Were Soldiers'* Retired Lt. Gen. Harold G. "Hal" Moore, the American hero known for saving most of his men in the first major battle between the U.S. and North Vietnamese armies, has died. He was 94. Joseph Galloway, who with Moore co-authored the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young," confirmed Saturday to The Associated Press that Moore died late Friday in his sleep at his home in Auburn, Alabama. Galloway said Moore, his friend of 51 years, died two days shy of his 95th birthday. "There's something mi... more »

Strictly come Israel-bashing

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 15 hours ago
It’s hard to blog about the BBC’s bias without straying from the narrow remit of the BBC’s bias and gravitating to the bias of the interviewees and participants in programmes like TBQs and Andrew Marr’s Sunday morning annoyingfest. I’m going to use the anti-Nigel Farage manoeuvre to say that I don’t see why we have to see so much of Rachel Shabi on our screens. She’s shrill, biased and irritating. (Maybe that’s why?) Laura Perrins (and Kathy Gyngell) must have invented some kind of skin-toughening technique as they’re always going to be in a minority on the BBC, and will have to be... more »

Cop Admits to Sex with Underage Teen, Giving Her Booze, Has Charges Erased

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: justice]In spite of a massive case against him, and his own admissions, a California cop will face no consequences for paying for sex with and underage teen.

Cops “Justified” for Going to Wrong House and Shooting Innocent Grandpa

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: intruders]An innocent 76-year-old man was shot in his own home by two intruders who will not face any consequences because they are police officers.

Not Just Austim, Major Yale Study Shows Vaccines Tied to Multiple Brain Disorders

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: vaccines]Scientist found a strong correlation between vaccines and developing a brain disorder such as OCD, anorexia, ADHD, and major depressive disorders.

Cops and Lawmakers Exposed in Massive $800m Private Prison Bribery Conspiracy

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: prison]Mississippi sued 10 people and 15 corporations this week to recoup more than $800 million in state money lost in a seven-year prison bribery scandal.

...from both sides

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 15 hours ago
In the interests of *ITBB *impartiality, I must note that all the 'BBC bias' hashtags on Twitter today are absolutely chock-a-block with links to an article on a left-wing site called Evolve Politics ('Truly Independent News and Media for the Awakened Generation') headlined *Report reveals biased BBC has “high dependency” on the Conservatives for statistics*. When you click on it and look into the report, it turns out to be one from last October (so nothing new) from the BBC itself - the BBC Trust's impartiality report into the BBC's use of statistics, and the figure which is prov... more »

Recommended reading

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
There's a fine piece about BBC bias over at Daphne Anson's excellent blog. Daphne takes in *Silent Witness, *a BBC Travel piece (that we licence fee-paying Brits can't read), and John Sweeney's sneering report on Geert Wilders ("brazenly thumbing the nose at Al Beeb's obligations to be objective required of it by its Charter and its Producers' Guidelines"), and joins the dots convincingly. She begins: Ah, the crafty BBC. If they can't get their leftist propaganda across by one route, they'll get it across by another. Or at least they'll *try*!

Would Trump's Fan Boys Accept A Sultanate Without A Throne?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
You know what's not really funny? It's not really funny that the low IQ/prescription drug-addled Trump supporters use Kellyanne Con-man's fictional Bowling Green Massacre-- a typical Trumpist #alt-fact-- to justify their belief that Trump should seize dictatorial powers. Yes,most Trump fans-- not *all*, just *most*, including every single one I've ever met-- are morons. That they have the right to vote is as horrifying as the German voters in 1933 who made the Nazi Party the biggest party in Germany. Same people-- completely and utterly the same people. You want to see a Nazi moron... more »

Booker On The NOAA Scandal

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 16 hours ago
By Paul Homewood http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/11/will-donald-trump-republicans-bring-end-costliest-scare-story/ Booker weighs in on the latest NOAA scandal: Two years ago last week, I wrote a column given the provocative heading “The fiddling of temperature data is the biggest science scandal ever”. It was the second of two articles which attracted a record 42,000 comments from all over […]

Transcript: Opening debate on 'The Big Questions', 12 Feb 2017

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
*NICKY CAMPBELL*: On Tuesday, Mrs May held talks at Downing Street with her opposite number in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Increasing trade and investment with Israel was high on the agenda. The day before, the Knesset, Israel's parliament, passed a bill legalising settlements on privately owned Palestinian land on the West Bank, in direct contradiction of a UN Security Council Resolution. Mrs May was clear that Britain opposes settlement activity and believes the two-state solution is the best way to bring peace to the region. Should we trade with Israel now the settlements have b... more »

400 Reasons To Consume Green Tea by Sayer Ji

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 17 hours ago
400 Reasons to Consume Green Tea by Sayer Ji Green Med Info, 8 February 2017 *Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage* ~ Kakuzo Okakura, *Book of Tea* *Things have come full circle. Green tea, which is consumed by billions the world over as an enjoyable beverage, is once again its attaining its rightful status as a powerful medicine in the eyes of both the public and health practitioners, alike. * We can imagine that long before the advent of civilization, with all its familiar trappings of pyrotechnology and pottery, tea leaves (which are quite bitter) would not have be... more »

More Big Questions

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 17 hours ago
Today's 'big questions' on *The Big Questions*, just like last week's ones, all seemed to spring from a left-liberal standpoint: The first focused on the campaign to boycott Israel and the last - hinging around the desire of a married Muslim man (from Polygam.com and secondwife.com) to have another wife - discussed whether polygamy might be a good thing? Here's how Nicky Campbell framed the debates today: - On Tuesday, Mrs May held talks at Downing Street with her opposite number in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Increasing trade and investment with Israel was high on th... more »

"Parachutes..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
"Dogmatism breeds intolerance. Like ideology, dogmatism puts blinders on what its adherents can see, disables their questioning faculties, and breeds fervor and fanaticism. Having an open mind does not mean that one never comes to any convictions in life. It is perfectly possible to have an open mind and live a very principled life, without holding one's beliefs dogmatically. Having an open mind means being prepared to question even your most central beliefs if there is occasion to do so. It means being open, when the time comes, to having your mind changed by an argument better th... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 17 hours ago
*Race gaps in SAT scores highlight inequality and hinder upward mobility* *In the usual Leftist way, the writer below doesn’t want to believe what the tests show so blames the test gap on poverty, class etc.It is important to note, however, that the tests DO predict exam performance and graduation rates. And the racial gap in exam performance and graduation is equally large and persistent there. Educators have been trying for years to find something, anything, that would close the black/white educational success gap but nothing has had any effect. Blacks are still much ... more »

Autism’s Three Up/Three Down

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 17 hours ago
By Cathy Jameson When everyone is home and no one has to run out to a meeting or a sports event, we sit and eat as a family around 6pm. That includes Ronan. It’s taken quite of bit of work...

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 17 hours ago
*Global warming data comes from a very narrow clique* *Scott Adams is mostly right below. Published climate data is a long way from the raw data and doing the transformation is the work of a very few scientists (or alleged scientists). The edited climate data is however readily available to all and even that data can be embarrassing to Warmists -- the tiny magnitude of the changes, for instance* One of the most famous statistics in the world of politics is the claim that 97% of climate scientists agree with the idea that humans activity is boosting CO2 to dangerous levels. Crit... more »

A Lament For The World

Rural at Democracy Under Fire - 18 hours ago
*First he said that he would make America great again.* *And the naive believed him.* *Then he said he would create more jobs.* *And the out of work cheered.* *Then he said stop the Mexican immigrants.* *And the bigoted flocked to join him.* *Then he said he would relinquish control of his companies..* *And his followers believed him.* *Then he was elected by those who could not see.* *And the world held its breath.* *Then two million women world wide protested his policies. * *And he ignored them and exaggerated his support..* *Then he elevated millionaires and ideologues to c... more »

Sunday Song

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 18 hours ago

He's Not Andrew Jackson -- He's a Fascist

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 19 hours ago
Some people are calling Donald Trump another Andrew Jackson -- the rough hewn American president who brought the democracy of the common man to the United States. But Henry Giroux is not fooled. For Giroux, Trump is -- in plain terms -- a fascist.The evidence is overwhelming. It's apparent in: Trump's blatant contempt for the truth, his willingness to embrace a blend of taunts and threats in his inaugural address, and his eagerness to enact a surge of regressive executive orders, the ghost of fascism reasserts itself with a familiar blend of fear and revenge. Unleashing promises he... more »

Is the BBC biased?: Hugh Sykes on trial

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
This piece http://isthebbcbiased.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/hugh-on-trial.html by Craig at the wonderfully detailed isthebbcbiased.blogspot.co.uk provides a full transcript of the BBC Feedback section that I picked up on in my piece here http://notasheepmaybeagoat.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/hugh-sykes-ignorant-or-deliberately.html The transcript lays out Hugh Sykes' discomfort for your reading pleasure.

AFRICOM – the big secret in the USA by Bryan Hunt (2/21/2007)

dandelionsalad at Dandelion Salad - 20 hours ago
Dandelion Salad From the blog Socialist Banner No. 3 on the top 25 censored media stories: 3 AFRICOM US Military Control of Africa’s Resources Source: MoonofAlabama.org 2/21/2007 Title: “Understanding AFRICOM” Author: Bryan Hunt http://www.moonofalabama.org/2007/02/understanding_a_1.html Student Researcher: Ioana Lupu Faculty Evaluator: Marco Calavita, Ph.D In February 2007 the White House announced the formation of the US […]

The Arab World

LL at Virtual Mirage - 20 hours ago
For your Sunday edification, I have chosen three relatively short YouTube videos. The first two from Prager U discuss the ramifications of the acrimony that the Arab world has for Israel and the general formation of ISIS, respectively. The third is Vladimir Putin's understanding of what led ISIS to be what it is today and who propelled it. I think that all three are on point and recommend them. A view of the region and Israel And what about ISIS? Putin on the creation of ISIS.

Is the BBC biased?: Hugh Pym says the BBC got it about right

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 20 hours ago
The BBC's relentless attacks on the Conservative government over the NHS for the last week or so has been hard to ignore. Attacks that neatly tie up with the Labour Party's best chance of garnering support. So I was intrigued to read this piece http://isthebbcbiased.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/hugh-pym-says-bbc-got-it-about-right.html at the wonderful isthebbcbiased.blogspot.co.uk. It records the views of the BBC's Hugh Pym, you won't be amazed to learn that he thinks that the BBC had not been partial in its reporting, here's an extract: 'SAMIRA AHMED: Some complaints have been that ... more »

Impartiality guidelines

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 20 hours ago
This morning's *The Andrew Marr Show* raised the issue of impartiality - in terms of the Speakership of the House of Commons *and* in terms of BBC presenters. and I had a wry smile over my face at something David Aaronovitch said... *LAURA PERRINS*: This is the story again of John Bercow, who seems to believe that the rules of Parliamentary neutrality do not apply to him. Coming after his outspoken remarks against President Trump, which I think bring Parliament into disrepute because he's clearly under a duty to remain neutral on these issues. He's also been found to be speakin... more »

Why the Future adds 0 and what “Conversations with the Future” is about

director@ieet.org (IEET) at Ethical Technology - 20 hours ago
This is the introduction to my bestselling book Conversations with the Future. If you like it, you can buy the book on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kcseK9 Why the Future adds 0 and what “Conversations with the Future” is about “If someone needs directions, don’t give them a globe. It’ll merely waste their time. But if someone needs to understand the way things are, don’t give them a map. They don’t need directions; they need to see the big picture.” Seth Godin

John Bercow 'impartial' despite Remain vote per BBC News

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 20 hours ago
John Bercow has been revealed as being anti Brexit, anti President Donald Trump and pro immigration, something tells me that the BBC will definitely not be saying that he's not impartial. Imagine that the House of Commons speaker had been revealed as being pro Brexit, pro President Donald Trump and anti unfettered immigration. Something tells me that the BBC would be casting doubts as to his suitability for the impartial role of Speaker. Remember that the BBC is also meant to be politically impartial, but isn't. You can read more about the BBC and John Bercow here on the BBC h... more »

Do Slovak women still have the right to use their books as toilet paper, fuel in the forest?

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 21 hours ago
The SJWs in the Czech media began to hysterically discuss a viral video that a Slovak woman born in 1992 recorded a month ago. Before you watch it, I must warn you: If you're a child, a Muslim, or otherwise incapable of watching videos freely, skip the video right away. Thanks for your understanding. *In total, copies of this video have received roughly one million views. People have noticed but it hasn't been a top viral video of the history.* OK, Ms Adriana Meleková who currently lives in Finland has obtained a copy of the Quran. She has complained about the undesirable behavior... more »

Nikola Danaylov Soars to No. 1 Best Seller for Conversations With The Future

director@ieet.org (IEET) at Ethical Technology - 21 hours ago
Singularity.FM Podcaster and author, Nikola Danaylov was recently recognized as an Amazon #1 International Best Seller for his new book, “Conversations with the Future: 21 Visions for the 21st Century.”

Trump: Nobody’s Complaining About DAPL

director@ieet.org (IEET) at Ethical Technology - 21 hours ago
President Trump says that he’s not getting any calls about the Dakota Access Pipeline. Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, and Jayar Jackson, the hosts of The Young Turks, tell you why that’s not true.

Father of the US Nuclear Navy Thought Risks of Nuclear Power Not Worth Benefits Because It Produces Radiation; Opposed Continued Subsidies to the Nuclear Industry

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 22 hours ago
“…every time you produce radiation, you produce something that has a certain half-life, which in some cases is billions of … Continue reading →

UK Government Believes that “Population Mixing” Can Seriously Damage YOUR Child’s Health – #StopMoorside

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 22 hours ago
Originally posted on Radiation Free Lakeland: Tim Farron MP looking at the Map of “excess” cancers from Sir Douglas Black’s Independent Advisory…

Civilisation

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 22 hours ago
In his *Mail on Sunday *column Peter Hitchens returns to a subject we looked at on Thursday: that blog post by "one-time Blairite commissar James Purnell" where the "now senior BBC mandarin" declares exultantly that the BBC will "question the very concept of civilisation" in its new three-presenter version of Lord Clark's *Civilisation *(to be entitled *Civilisations*)*. * Mr Purnell's declaration that the BBC will *not *be focusing on Western civilisation runs counter, Peter Hitchens writes, to the Latin inscription on the original Broadcasting House: This temple of the arts and... more »

Urges

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 22 hours ago
An article on the BBC website that, until you click on it, is still headlined... ...now (after you click on it) bears the different headline *Trump urges Israel to 'act reasonably' on settlements*. The article itself shows that there's no justification whatsoever for the "warns" bit of the original headline as no warning was given. That said, even this new headline isn't accurate. The BBC quotes a bit of an interview with the Israeli newspaper *Israel Hayom*. It includes a link to the Hebrew language original (strangely, because there's also an English language version of the int... more »

“The Inevitability of Economic Collapse”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*“The Inevitability of Economic Collapse”* by David Haggith “While I haven’t had the privilege of divine revelation, I do try to look at the forces that are in play that have the power to move nations economically. Two dominant countervailing forces right now are those who have George Soros nearly in tears- who make up the anti-global revolution- and then all the globalists like Soros who are panicking that their new world order is being shredded accompanied by all the raging anarchists that Soros can sponsor as his mercenaries. There is some certainty here: globalists will not giv... more »

Denouncing DeVos: Democrats Are Again Blocking Schoolhouse Doors

Selwyn Duke at rss - 1 day ago
[image: denouncing-devos-democrats-are-again-blocking-schoolhouse-doors] Democrat Alabama governor George Wallace blocked “schoolhouse” doors in 1963 to protest the entry of two black students. Now Democrats are again blocking schoolhouse doors, this time in an effort to impede the Trump administration's effort to govern.

How Deep Will The Trumpist Take Over Of The GOP Go? Who Plays The Von Papen Role?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
There was a flurry of reports that Republicans would stand up to Trump, rein him in, keep him under control, direct and guide him, etc. German conservatives-- from the industrialists and media moguls to politicians like Franz von Papen-- were supposed to do the same thing with Hitler once he became chancellor. Hitler’s thirst for power couldn’t have been more grossly underestimated. The nine conservative ministers in the so-called "Cabinet of National Concentration" clearly carried more weight than the three National Socialists. But Hitler also made sure that two key ministries ... more »

Why you should date your best friend

Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., Chair and Professor of Psychology, Monmouth University at Science + Technology – The Conversation - 1 day ago
Bestie + Lover = Relationship Nirvana? Aspa, CC BY One person fills two roles. Being someone’s BFF is a big deal – you don’t hand over the other half of your “Best Friends” necklace to just anyone. Having a romantic partner who is also your best friend potentially sounds perfect. With your BFF as your romantic partner, you get the best of both worlds, someone with whom you can laugh, share your life and cuddle. When you look at seemingly happy celebrity couples like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, or Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow, not only do they appear to be in love, but they also s... more »

U.S. Special Forces Were Deployed To 138 Nations In 2016

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Burning Platform:* *U.S. Special Forces Deployed To 70% Of The World In 2016* U.S. Special Operations Command launched a raid in Yemen’s Baida Province on Jan 29, targeting Qassim al-Rimi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The first high-profile special forces operation of Trump’s presidency, the raid resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Al Qaeda fighters, 20 civilians and Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens. Three other Americans were reportedly wounded and an Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft was destroyed by U.S. forces after it was heavily damaged in a forced landing. Ov... more »

Major U.S. Arms Sales To Be Approved By The Trump Administration For Saudi Arabia And Bahrain

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
© Sputnik/ Alexander Kovalev *Washington Times:* *Trump to approve weapons packages to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain blocked by Obama* The Trump administration is poised to move quickly to approve major weapons packages for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain that President Obama blocked during his final months in office over human rights concerns in both nations, U.S. officials and congressional sources say. While the White House declined to discuss its plans, one U.S. official directly involved in the transfers told The Washington Times that a roughly $300 million precision-guided missile technolo... more »

CIA Gives Medal To Saudi Crown Prince For His Role In Fighting Terrorism

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
The medal, named after George Tenet, was handed to him by CIA Director Micheal Pompeo after the Crown Prince received him in Riyadh. (SPA) *Al Arabiya:* *CIA honors Saudi Crown Prince for efforts against terrorism* The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, received a medal on Friday from the CIA for his distinct intelligence-related counter-terrorism work and his contributions to ensure international peace and security. The medal, named after George Tenet, was handed to him by CIA Director Micheal Pompeo after t... more »

"Decide..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
“We’re all gonna die. We don’t get much say on how or when, but we do get to decide how we are gonna live. So do it, decide. Is this the life you want to live? Is this the person you want to love? Is this the best you can be? Can you be stronger? Kinder? More compassionate? Decide. Breathe in… Breathe out… and decide.” ~ "Grey’s Anatomy"

Musical Interlude: 2002, “Rays of Light”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
2002, “Rays of Light” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEvb6uQPIIQ

Have Migrants From President Trump's 7 Country Ban Been Convicted Of Terrorism?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
CNN *Washington Examiner:** Report: 72 convicted of terrorism from 'Trump 7' mostly Muslim countries* Since 9/11, 72 individuals from the seven mostly Muslim countries covered by President Trump's "extreme vetting" executive order have been convicted of terrorism, bolstering the administration's immigration ban. According to a report out Saturday, at least 17 claimed to be refugees from those nations, three came in as "students," and 25 eventually became U.S. citizens. The Center for Immigration Studies calculated the numbers of convicted terrorists from the Trump Seven: *Read m... more »

The Rag Blog : METRO EVENT | The Rag makes history!

Thorne Dreyer at The Rag Blog - 1 day ago
We ‘Celebrate The Rag’ & it’s lasting impact on our city at the Austin History Center, Sunday, Feb. 19. Event: ‘Celebrating the Rag’ What: Discussion, film screening, book signing Who: Editors Thorne Dreyer, Alice Embree, and Richard Croxdale, and film … finish reading The Rag Blog : *METRO EVENT* | The Rag makes history!

Anti-Government Protests Erupt In Baghdad. Green Zone Hit By Rockets After Deadly Clashes

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*BBC*: *Baghdad's Green Zone hit by rockets after deadly clashes* Several rockets have hit the high security Green Zone in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, hours after clashes at a protest left at least five dead. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies in Baghdad. Earlier on Saturday, thousands of protesters, demanding electoral reform, tried to storm the area. Police fired tear gas. At least 200 people are reported to be hurt. The protesters, mostly supporters of the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, want chang... more »

X22Report, “New Report Projects The West Will Become The New 'Third World'”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
X22Report, “New Report Projects The West Will Become The New 'Third World'” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRkXSo5lt_c

Ayn Rand on the Right and Wrong Kinds of Nationalism

Anoop Verma at For The New Intellectual - 1 day ago
In *Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of Her Q & A*, Ayn Rand says that there can be more than one kind of nationalism depending on how the term is interpreted. She says this in response to the question: *What is the value of nationalism?* This is how Rand describes a wrong kind of nationalism: “Nationalism as a primary—that is, the attitude of “my country, right or wrong,” without any judgement—is chauvinism: a blind, collectivist, racist feeling for your own country, merely because you were born there. In that sense, nationalism is very wrong.” Here’s her description of the right kind ... more »

Trump, Flynn, Putin, The Golden Showers-- Why Members of Congress Are Demanding Trump Fire Flynn

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
Friday, two progressive Democrats who served in the military and are especially concerned about National Security issues, Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), demanded Trump fire his scandal-plagued National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn. They pointed out in a joint statement that "Flynn sought to undermine the foreign policy of a sitting American President. And then he lied-- repeatedly and egregiously-- about his actions. Donald Trump should fire Michael Flynn immediately. Flynn communicated with high-ranking Russian officials both before and after a presidential electio... more »

North Korea Has Conducted A Ballistic Missile Test

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Reuters*: *North Korea test-fires ballistic missile into sea: South Korea military* North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast early on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the first time the isolated state has tested such a device since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. The missile was launched from an area named Panghyon in North Korea's western region just before 8 a.m. (2300 GMT Saturday) and flew about 500 kilometers (300 miles), the South's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in statements. "Our assessment is that it is part of a show... more »

Hitchhiker Killed by Muslims?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 1 day ago
On 19 February 2016, the web site Yes I’m Right shared a story about a woman who had been raped and murdered while hitchhiking in the Middle East: This Facebook post (and blatantly clickbaiting headline) linked to an article (riddled with inconsistencies, bad information, and misspellings) about the death of Giuseppina Pasqualino di Marineo, better known as Pippa Bacca, a performing artist who … Continued

U.S. President Trump Warns Iranian President Rouhani To Be Careful On What He Says

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Reuters*: *Trump to Iran's Rouhani: Better be careful* U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran President Hassan Rouhani "better be careful" after Rouhani was quoted as saying that anyone who speaks to Iranians with threats would regret it. Trump was asked in a brief appearance in the press cabin aboard Air Force One about Rouhani's reported remarks to a rally in Tehran to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Rouhani was quoted in media reports as saying Iran had shown in the 38 years since the revolution that "it will make anyone who speaks to Iranian... more »

Canada Is Becoming A Destination Of Choice For Migrants

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Roxham Rd. in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., which once connected Canada and the United States, is now one of the busiest holes in the lengthy border for illegal immigrants. (MARTIN TREMBLAY / LA PRESSE) *CTV:* *Canada-U.S. treaty has hundreds of asylum seekers crossing Quebec border illegally* Through back roads and in taxis, hundreds of immigrants are making their way across the border between Quebec and the United States illegally, according to Canadian Border Services Agency statistics. The numbers show an explosion in the amount of asylum claims being made at CBSA land bord... more »

Were Anti-Immigrant Demonstrations in Poland Ignored by News Media?

Kim LaCapria at Snopes.com - 1 day ago
Global debate about the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis escalated sharply following the 13 November 2015 Paris attacks; one manner by which misinformation consistently spread both before and after that event involved barriers of language and media between Europe and the United States. Sortly after the Paris attacks, American social media users began spreading the image reproduced above, claiming … Continued

Meet The Billionaire CEO Behind the Dakota Access Pipeline

White Wolf at White Wolf - 1 day ago
"They just want to stop fossil fuels." Another time, he compared the tactics of some anti-pipeline activists to "terrorism." Kelcy Warren. Warren is a co-founder and CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, the conglomerate whose security contractors have deployed pepper spray and snarling dogs against the Native Americans protesting its Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in North Dakota. *He's laying another contested pipeline, the Trans-Pecos*, near Big Bend National Park—hallowed ground to many Texans. He's spent millions of dollars supporting right-wing politicians. He gave $700,000 to Texa... more »

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
“Following an ancient galaxy-galaxy collision 200 million light-years from Earth, debris from a gas-rich galaxy, NGC 5291, was flung far into intergalactic space. NGC 5291 and the likely interloper, also known as the "Seashell" galaxy, are captured near the center of this spectacular scene. The sharp, ground-based telescopic image looks toward the galaxy cluster Abell 3574 in the southern constellation Centaurus. *Click image for larger size.* Stretched along the 100,000 light-year long tidal tails, are clumps resembling dwarf galaxies, but lacking old stars, apparently dominated by ... more »

Chet Raymo, “Thinking Like A Tortoise”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*“Thinking Like A Tortoise”* by Chet Raymo “The average lifespan in a hunter-gatherer society is 32 years. If you think you'd like the simplicity and ecological integrity of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, be sure to take your mobile phone and not wander too far away from a hospital. Culture, medical and biological science in particular, changed things dramatically. A century-and-a-half ago life expectancy at birth was 50 years, with child mortality being the most significant limiting factor. By the time I was born, life expectancy at birth was pushing 70 years, with the age-range 14-... more »

No comments:

Post a Comment